Representatives Krause and Mulligan Denied Access to U.S. Senate Aviation Subcommittee on O'Hare

June 15, 2001

State Representatives Carolyn Krause and Rosemary Mulligan were denied an opportunity to speak on behalf of the residents of Suburban Cook County who are opposed to the expansion of O'Hare Airport.

Krause and Mulligan requested the opportunity to speak before the subcommittee Friday, June 15, to give a counter view of the overwhelming majority of speakers who are pro expansion.

The only speaker from the Illinois House, Julie Hamos, chaired the Illinois House Aviation Committee, which did not include any input from suburban Cook County and did not permit the minority to have access to her report ahead of time, nor the chance to write their own report or at least a rebuttal opinion.

Both Mulligan and Krause wanted to present a different view to give balance to the hearings and requested a two minute presentation on the panel. The request was denied by a staff person from the aviation subcommittee. Even a request to counter Rep. Hamos' testimony was denied.

Krause and Mulligan believe that the Senate setup this committee meeting in Chicago to deliberately stampede state officials to make a decision contrary to the best interest and well-being of the residents of suburban Cook County.